Banding machine



p 1947- J. c. PILSON 2,427,874

BANDING MACHINE Filled March 21, 1945 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOHN c. PILSON s BY 50 a firromv w Sept. 23,1947. J. c. PILSON 2,427,874

BANDING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN C. PILSON 20 I 25 BY v TTORN Y Patented Sept. 23, 1947 BANDING MACHINE John C. Pilson,

Louisville, Ky.,

assignor to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 21, 1945, Serial No. 584,012

9 Claims.

This invention relates to marking apparatus for applying code marks on cylindrical or tubular objects and the like and more particularly to improvements in apparatus of this general class.

One of the objects of this invention resides in improvements in marking or banding machines whereby one or more uni-color or vari-color bands may be applied in a uniformly thick film.

Another object is the provision of simple, positive acting means and mechanical apparatus for painting, inking or otherwise applying bands or marks on tubular or cylindrical articles.

A further object resides in the arrangement and operation of the marking or banding machine so that the object to be marked or banded may be held in a desired stationary position while the marking operation is being performed.

Other objects and advantages will become obvious and easily understood from the following description of one form and arrangement of banding apparatus disclosed by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in which certain portions thereof have been partly broken away to reveal details of construction and arrangement,

Figure 2 is an enlarged and top plan view of the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view as seen along line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a detailed section of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus taken at line 44 in Figure 2.

In the drawing and particularly the showings of Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus is depicted as comprising a frame structure whichincludes a base In having an upturned rear end portion H formed with an inturned lip or mounting seat I2, a bracing member 13 extending diagonally from the forward edge of the base upwardly and rearwardly to the lip 12 to strengthen the portions H and I2, and a stop plate I4 which is attached to the base at its forward edge as shown. A stationary shaft 15 rigidly supported in a block I6 carried on the mounting seat 12 extends forwardl and is adapted to carry certain operating parts of the apparatus now to be described.

Referring to Figure 4, the fixed shaft 15 carries a freely rotatable shaft 26 upon the outer end of which has been formed a carrier disc 2|. The shaft 20 is prevented from axial displacement by means of a stop collar 22 at its rear end and by a combined mandrel element 23 and guard disc 24 which abut the end of the fixed shaft I and are retained in position upon a stud 25 threaded into the end of the shaft. In addition, the rotary shaft 20 provides a bearing surface for a relatively rotatably mounted drive pulley 26, the pulley being retained in spaced position rearwardly of the carrier disc by means of a pair of snap rings 21 engaging the pulley hub and resting in suitable grooves formed in the shaft 20.

The drive system (Figures 1 and 2) for pulley 26 includes a motor 30, which in this instance is of electrical type, rigidly mounted on the diagonal bracing member l3 by bolts 3|, a motor shaft 32 extending through an aperture in the diagonal brace and journaled in a pillow block 33 on the base H]. The outer end of this shaft 32 carries a worm element 34 whichengages and drives a worm wheel 35. The Worm wheel is mounted on a shaft 36 set at right angles to the motor shaft for rotation in spaced bearing brackets 31 and 38 in turn mounted on the base mem-- ber 10. The worm wheel shaft projects through the bearing bracket 31 a suitable distance and is provided with a right angled clutch finger 39.

The clutch finger 39 is intended to engage a second clutch element 40 eccentrically carried on a small drive pulley 4| which through a suitable belt 42 drives the larger pulley 26. The engagement and disengagement of elements 39 and 40 is accomplished by mounting the small pulley on a pivoting or swingable bracket arm 43 (Figure 3). The pulley is rotatably mounted at the free, vertically directed end 44 of this bracket while the opposite end is suitably twisted and angled to provide a horizontally directed bearing surface 45 for pivoting about a suitable pivot forming means 46. Hence when the arm 43 is swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 the clutch fingers 39 and 46 will engage while the opposite direction of movement will effect a disengagement as depicted in Figure 2. A stop element 48 is provided for arm 43, the stop striking plate l4 as shown.

A control arm or operations lever 50 extends forwardly of, below and to one side of the carrier means 2| from the rear portion II where a right angled section 5| thereof extends across the :base I0 and is mounted in a pair of spaced bearing blocks 52 secured to the portion I I. This lever is retained against inward movement, in the direction of the axis of section 5|, by a stop pin 53. The lever 50 is adapted to perform two functions, one of which is to swing the arm 43.

for coupling or disengaging the motor 30 and pulley 26 as described above. For this purpose the shaft 5| is provided with a depending pin element 54 which engages the rear end of a connecting arm 55, the forward end of this latter arm is secured to the arm 43 as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The second function of the control lever is to operate a motor switch 56 for energizing the motor 30 when desired. Therefore, the free end of shaft 5| carries an element 51 which is engageable with the button element 58 of the switch 56. When the button 58 is depressed (moved to the right as viewed in Figure 2) the switch completes the electrical power circuit represented by lead wire 59 to the motor and leads 60 and 6| to the switch and from the switch to the motor respectively. The lever 50 is normally held in a raised position by means of a coiled spring 63 extending from the pin 54 to the bolt 3| (Figure 1). The effect of this spring is to retain the pulley 4| out of engagement with motor, through the clutch elements 39 and 40, and to prevent the operation of motor control switch 56 by element 51.

It is evident that when the lever 50 is depressed as in Figure 1 the motor will be energized and pulley 26 set in motion through the clutch arrangement discussed. The pulley rotates on and with respect to the tubular shaft 20. Ordinarily the friction drag between these parts will cause rotation of the part 20, but it is the intention of this invention to prevent such induced rotation of the shaft 20 and hence rotation of' carrier 2| until desired for the accomplishment of the marking phase. Thus a drag brake 65 adjustably mounted on a rigid bracket 66 is positioned to contact the tubular shaft 20 at a location rearwardly of the pulley 26. This brake comprises a pair of brake bands 61 secured to the opposite edges of a frame strip 68 (Figure 4) The adjustable mounting for this brake may be a coiled spring element 69 disposed between the frame 68 and the bracket 66 as shown in Figure 1.

The banding or marking operation of the present invention is accomplished by means of a marker unit 10 mounted near the periphery of the carrier disc 2| upon a curved arm H. This unit is mounted for pivotal movement on the carrier and also moves with the carrier when the latter is rotated as will be described presently. The unit 10 is normally retained in a raised position relative to the mandrel 23 but is adapted to move toward the latter when in operation. The pivoting motion of the unit is shown in dotted outline in Figure 3.

In the present instance, the unit 10 comprises a single marking fluid reservoir 12 and a wicklike applicator or brush l3 projecting from the end thereof and in a direction to contact the article to be marked. Of course, use may be made of a multiple marking unit so that two or more bands or marks may be applied simultaneously, and one or different colored marking fluids may be supplied to the applicators. Thus suitable coded color schemes or patterns may be selected. Other possibilities would include variations in the width of marks by interchangeable applicator sizes. But for convenience here only a single marking unit has been indicated in the drawing at 10.

Rotation of the carrier disc 2| and pivotal motion of the marking unit I0 relative to the carrier is obtained through the provision of a combined driving and positioning link 15 which is pivotally mounted at the rear of the carrier 2| for pivotal motion with the arm 1| (see Figure 3). The link 15 extends chordwise of the disc 2| and the free end is connected by a resilient member 16 with the hub of the pulley 26 as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The full line position of the several parts just described in Figure 3 represents the at rest condition of the apparatus, while the dotted outlines indicate the first phase of operation during which the marker unit 10 is pivoted into contact with an article or the like positioned over the mandrel 23 as indicated in the drawing (Figure 1). The resilient means 16 is preferably also flexible so that it may be curved around the shaft 2|] in the annular slot or space between the pulley hub and the disc 2| (Figure 4) during the driving phase of the operation when the carrier and pulley 26 move together. A shown, this means is a closed coil spring which possesses the characteristics of a solid spring bar for maintaining the positional relation between the pulley and disc, but also that of a tension member so that the requisite contact pressure may be developed between the fluid applicator or wick and the object to be marked.

During the time when the applicator is advanced to marking position the carrier disc is effectively rotationally restrained by means of the brake means 65 already discussed in connection with Figure 4. Furthermore, this brake will also prevent carrier disc rotation at all times when the pulley 26 is not in driving relation through the means 16. Therefore, and in order to return the applicator unit 10 to a position spaced from the mandrel 23 during non-use or in the interim period between marking operations, the pulley system 26 and 4| is purposely disconnected from the power system by the interposed clutch elements so as to leave the pulley 26 free to assume any position dictated by the flexing and spring-back means 16 when assuming its normal or at rest attitude.

Thus after a single complete revolution of the marker unit 16 to mark the object as at A in Figure 1 the lever 50 is released from its depressed or operate position and spring 63 will then immediately raise the same to 01f position, simultaneously de-clutching the pulley 4| and cutting off power to the motor 30 as previously pointed out. During the period of operation the carrier disc must be rotated against the drag or resistance of the brake 65. Consequently the carrier will, upon de-clutching of the pulley system, come to rest quickly. Stoppage of the carrier allows the means I6 to flex and return to normal attitude and at the same time exert a force upon the pulley 26 which rotates the latter in a direction reverse to its direction for operating the marking unit 10. Reference to Figures 1 and 3 will further emphasize this feature of operation.

Because of the features of construction and operation of this apparatus it is not at all necessary that the marking unit 10 be returned to the same position between operating intervals. Actually the unit 10 may advance progressively in its circular orbit so that its at rest positions may be other than that shown. This is advantageous as the apparatus is not limited to a given position as are some prior devices.

Moreover, the object to be marked is held stationary on the mandrel which is of great convenience especially when marking long tubes and cumbersome objects. Interchangeability of mandrels to accommodate different size objects is also contemplated herein as evidenced by the threaded assembly of mandrel 23.

It is of course understood that structural modifications and certain other changes and alterations may be made in the apparatus as described Without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for applying a circumferential mark on tubular objects, a frame structure, a supporting shaft fixed on said frame, a mandrel carried by said supporting shaft for supporting the object to be marked, a carrier rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, mark applying means operably mounted on said carrier, and means adapted to operate said mark applying means into contact with the object and for thereafter rotating said carrier whereby said mark applying means is moved circumferentially with respect to the object.

2. In apparatus for applying a circumferential mark on tubular objects, a frame structure, a supporting shaft fixed on said frame, a mandrel carried by said supporting shaft for supporting the object to be marked, a carrier rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, mark applying means operably mounted on said carrier, and means including a resilient element adapted to operate said mark applying means into contact with the object and for thereafter rotating said carrier whereby said mark applying means is moved circumferentially with respect to the ol ject.

3. In apparatus for applying a circumferential mark on tubular objects, a frame structure, a supporting shaft fixed on said frame, a mandrel carried by said supporting shaft for supporting the object to be marked, a carrier rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, mark applying means operably mounted on said carrier, and means including a resilient and flexible element adapted to operate said mark applying mean into contact with the object and for thereafter rotating said carrier whereby said mark applying means is moved circumferentially with respect to the object.

4. In apparatus for applying a circumferential mark on tubular objects, a frame structure, a supporting shaft fixed on said frame, a mandrel carried by said supporting shaft for supporting the object to be marked, a carrier rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, mark applying means operably mounted on said carrier, a drive pulley coaxially positioned with respect to said carrier, a link fixed to said mark applying means for operating the latter, resilient means secured to said link and to said drive pulley, and means for rotating said pulley whereby said resilient means and said link coact to operate said mark applying means into contact with the object to be marked and thereafter rotate said carrier with said pulley.

5. In apparatus for circumferentially marking tubular objects, a frame structure, a supporting shaft fixed on said frame, a fixed mandrel carried by said supporting shaft for supporting the object to be marked, a carrier mounted on said supporting shaft for rotation bout an axis coincident with that of said mandrel, mark applying means mounted on said carrier for pivotal movement with respect thereto and toward or away from a position of contact with the circumferential surface of the object to be marked, a drive pulley operably positioned on said supporting shaft for limited rotation with respect to said carrier, power operated means for driving said pulley, a clutch operably disposed between said power operated means for driving said pulley and the latter, a link fixed to said mark applying means for pivoting the latter for movement toward and away from said position of contact, and resilient means secured to said link and to said drive pulley whereby, as said pulley is rotated by said power operated means with respect to said carrier, said resilient means and said link coact to pivot said mark applying means into its position of contact with the object to be marked and thereafter afford a driving connection between said drive pulley and said carrier.

6. In apparatus for marking objects, a stationary support for the object to be marked, a rotatable carrier, marking means movably mounted on the carrier, a rotatable drive element, and means for transmitting rotary movement of the drive element to the carrier, said means comprising a connection between the drive element and said marking means for moving the latter relative to the carrier into contact with the object upon initial rotary movement of the drive element.

7. In apparatus for marking objects, a stationary support for the object to be marked, a rotatable carrier, a marker and a support therefor pivoted to the carrier, a rotatable drive element, and means for transmitting rotary movement of the drive element to the carrier, said means comprising a connection between said drive element and said support for moving the latter about its pivot to the carrier to bring the marker into contact with the object upon initial rotary movement of the drive element.

8. In apparatus for marking objects, a stationary support for the object to be marked, a rotatable carrier, marking means movably mounted on the carrier, a rotatable drive element, and means for transmitting rotary movement of the drive element to the carrier, said means comprising a resilient connection between the drive element and said marking means for moving the latter relative to the carrier into contact with the object upon initial rotary movement of the drive element.

9. In apparatus for marking objects, a stationary support for the object to be marked, a rotatable carrier, a marker and a support therefor pivoted to the carrier, a rotatable drive element, and means for transmitting rotary movement of the drive element to the carrier, said means comprising a resilient connection between said drive element and said support for moving the latter about its pivot to the carrier to bring the marker into contact with the object upon initial rotary movement of the drive element. JOHN- C. PILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,436,223 Weimar Nov. 21, 1922 2,324,410 Miller July 12, 1943 1,915,646 Christman et al. June 27, 1933 791,681 Epperson Jan. 6, 1905 575,532 Nitschke Jan. 19, 1897 1,796,574 Meyers Mar. 17, 1931 

